Scary crap. We had a windsurfer get attacked up at Davenport earlier this month. A friend also sent a photo of a blood slick (former elephant seal) at Waddell last week. Fall is both shark season and of course the best time of year for surfing.

Duke_leto_Atredes:it is only a shark if it crosses PCH and bites a cop on the @$$, if they are in the water they are called FISH

//Brought to you by the California Tourist Board

Oh, piffle, it's still a shark. Usually it's a great white shark. Every surfer in California knows we have to sacrifice at least one of their number to the Shark Gods every year to ensure good waves. It hasn't been a good season if they don't get at least one between Asilomar and the Bay.

Dr.Knockboots:I have such a stupid 3rd grade question.. but I am going to ask it.

I seem to remember they're working on more complicated solutions, which leads me to think it wasn't that easy. Maybe it kills other fish, maybe swimmers catch their ankles and drown, maybe the sharks find a way through anything. I think the next step was to try a fence of chemical shark repellant.

I seem to remember they're working on more complicated solutions, which leads me to think it wasn't that easy. Maybe it kills other fish, maybe swimmers catch their ankles and drown, maybe the sharks find a way through anything. I think the next step was to try a fence of chemical shark repellant.

I watched a show about killer whales killing great whites. it was fascinating in every respect.

but, relevant to this thread, it was very interesting to realize the effect that the death of a great white would have on the area. When a killer whale kills a great white, they rip the shark to threads, mainly looking for the liver. the liver is full of all sorts of smells and bloods. but, apparently, once the sharks blood gets spilled so violently in the water, it sends off a chemical warning to all the other great whites in the area. the sharks get a whiff and then they leave and don't come back.

it was interesting, they're actually trying to see if this great white shark blood or stuff from the liver will work as a reliable shark deterent commercially.

Fark Rye For Many Whores: Dr.Knockboots: I have such a stupid 3rd grade question.. but I am going to ask it.

I seem to remember they're working on more complicated solutions, which leads me to think it wasn't that easy. Maybe it kills other fish, maybe swimmers catch their ankles and drown, maybe the sharks find a way through anything. I think the next step was to try a fence of chemical shark repellant.

I watched a show about killer whales killing great whites. it was fascinating in every respect.

but, relevant to this thread, it was very interesting to realize the effect that the death of a great white would have on the area. When a killer whale kills a great white, they rip the shark to threads, mainly looking for the liver. the liver is full of all sorts of smells and bloods. but, apparently, once the sharks blood gets spilled so violently in the water, it sends off a chemical warning to all the other great whites in the area. the sharks get a whiff and then they leave and don't come back.

it was interesting, they're actually trying to see if this great white shark blood or stuff from the liver will work as a reliable shark deterent commercially.

They use beach nets in Australia and South Africa, but the nets kill a very large number of marine animals so they are controversial. While they probably wouldn't change the waves at a beach, the animal deaths could severely alter the ecosystem at the beach where a net is used. And they are not fool proof, they can tear or get loose, and require upkeep. Mostly they aren't used in the US because the waters here are just not as sharky and its really not necessary. Its a tragedy when someone dies in a shark attack but in perspective more people died yesterday in car accidents than will die all year from sharks.

Any deterrent is going to have bad side effects and not be 100% effective at repelling sharks. Things that repel sharks like chemicals or electric signals, are quick and rare to the shark. If we introduced a chemical that would repel sharks to a beach constantly the sharks would become accustomed to it and within a few weeks it wouldn't repel sharks anymore. The same goes for the idea of using a electric signal to protect a beach or any of the other ideas. There most likely won't ever be anything to repel sharks and make going in the ocean 100% safe from them. The only thing you can do is be smart and know the risks.